Bangladesh’s Jamaat-i-Islami has formally accepted defeat in the general elections, clearing the path for nationalist leader Tarique Rahman to become the country’s next prime minister. The concession came a day after the party had raised concerns about alleged irregularities in the vote count.
According to the Bangladesh Election Commission, Rahman’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a sweeping victory in Thursday’s polls — the first national election since a violent 2024 uprising ended the long rule of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
The BNP-led alliance won 212 seats, far ahead of the Jamaat-backed bloc, which captured 77. Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman acknowledged the results, saying that respecting the people’s mandate was essential in any democratic system.
Rahman’s return to power marks a dramatic political comeback. After spending 17 years in exile in Britain, he returned to Bangladesh only in December. He is the son of former president Ziaur Rahman, who was assassinated in 1981, and former prime minister Khaleda Zia.
Interim leader and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus welcomed the outcome, expressing hope that the new government would promote stability and reform. International observers, including the European Union, described the election as credible, though some noted the political climate remains fragile as Bangladesh enters a new chapter.
